Controlling device



Nov. '4, 1930.

F. C. KINNEY ET AL CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1925 mum Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES FATENT @FFKCE FREDERICK C. KINNEY AND WALTER 'I. STOCKTON, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS CONTROLLING BEVICE Application filed February 16, 19.25. Serial No. 9,461.

Our invention relates generally to controlling devices and more particularly to controlling mechanisms for closing and breaking an electric circuit at predetermined times.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of mechanism which may be associated with the works of a clock and which will operate an electric switch at any particular desired time.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism for closing and opening an electric switch at specified times and which will continue to open and close said switch daily at the said times until the mechanism is readjusted or positioned to cease operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for rendering said mechanism inoperative until said means is repositioned for placing the mechanism in operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of indicating means which will disclose to the operator as to whether the device is in or out of operative engagement with the clock.

A more particular object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class described for switching on the lights of an automobile at a set time and shutting the same ofi upon termination of any desired period.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the particular embodiment of the same shown in the accompanying drawing and disclosed in the following specification. Obviously changes may be made as to the structure of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention and its scope as the same is defined in the appending claims.

Referring to the drawings- Fig. 1 shows a clock dial having two set dials thereon for disclosing the time at which the controlling mechanism will be brought into operation for making or breaking an electric circuit; Fig. 2 is a view of the controlling mechanism within the clock, the body or shell of the clock being broken away. The works are not shown, with the exception of the hour hand cog as the device can be suited to any clock mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the actuating mechanisms and the association of the same with the hour cog of a clock;

Fig. l is a sectional view taken on the line 41- 1 of Fig. 2, disclosing the gearing used in adjusting the actuating mechanisms so that the latter will operate at a specified time;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of an actuating mechanism:

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5 showing in detail the association of a switch with an actuating mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view taken on the line 7? of Fig. 2 disclosing the switch contacts.

The shell or frame of a clock is indicated by the numeral 11 and has associated therewith in the usual manner the customary clock face 12. Vvithin the structure is the ordinary frame member 13 upon which the clock works, not shown, are mounted. The

hour cog wheel of a clock is operatively 2 associated with cog wheels 15 and 15 by the intermediate cog 17.

Since the construction of the mechanism associated with cog 15 is identical with that associated with cog wheel 15, with the exception of a small portion of the latter structure which exception will be hereinafter pointed out, the mechanism associated with 15 will be described and the corresponding members associated with 15 will be like numbered with the addition of the letter a in each instance.

The cog wheel 15 is provided with a collar portion 16, which extends beyond the outer face of the cog 15 said collar portion 16 being slidably mounted on the bearing 18. The bearing 18 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 19 and is provided at the outer peripheral edge thereof with a finger 20. The said 001-, lar portion 16 of the cog 15 is recessed or slotted at the point 21, as shown in Fig. 5, to receive the finger 20. Interposed between the cog wheel 15 and the frame member.13'

cog 24 is operat-ively connected to the setting shaft 25 through means of a gear 26, which is rotatably mounted on an arbor 28-, said arbor being-secured to the frame member 13. Associated with gear 26 is a cog 29 which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 25, the said cog 29 is of sufficient breadth to permit longitu dinal movement of the shaft 25 without disengaging same from the gear 26.

. A ratchet 27 is provided in association with the cog 29 to prohibit counter clockwise movement of the same thus preventing the operator from causing the finger 20 to engage the slot 21 and turn the cog 15 against the hour cog 14 in setting the; device.

I The setting shaft 25 extends through the rim 30 of the clock, passes through frame member 13 and is secured at its lowerextremity in the catch member 31, means being provided on the inner endofsaid shaft 25 which comprises an annular extension 32 thereon. The catch member 31 consists of a U-shaped spring member having two annular depressions inthe inner surface thereof which are adapted to receive the annular extension 32 on the shaft 25. The said depressions in the claspmember 31 are provided to retain the shaft 25 in .Iposition and are spaced apart adistance equal to or greater than the depth of the slot 21 in the journal member 16. The

outer .eirtremity of the shaft 25 is equipped with a knurled knob 48 which adapts the same for rotation by the fingers of the oper- An arm 33 is mounted on the shaft-25 above the .cog wheel-15. The said arm is fastened to the shaft 25 by cutt-ing the shaft down as shown in dot-ted lines,rand securing a collar or bearing member in thecut down or slotted portion ofthe shaft. This construction permits rotary movementlof the shaft in the collar and maintains the shaft 25 and arm 33 in .rig'idassociation when the shaft is mover longitudinally. The arm '33 is {guide-(land prevente d'fr'oin rotary movement with shaft 25 by thepin 35 which passes through a hole in the, said arm. The gui'de pinfis fiil'edly securfed 'to the frame member 13. a v

a, The 'arii 33 is bentin the, central portion thereof to ffo'rinan angle of apprcximately 60 andext ends beyond th egperiphery of the cog'15, as isbe'st s ownin Fig. 3. The endseer arm areas aaa appears :psaaa the passage of a bolt 37 therethrough, the purpose of which will be hereinafter pointed out. A bearing member 49 is provided at the bend in the arm 33 thereby reducing friction to a minimum.

The arm 33 corresponding to the arm 33, is cutoff at apoint corresponding to the bend in the arm 33. p y

The spring members 22 and 22 are bent at right angles as they pass over the edge or through openings provided in the frame member 13. The lower ends 38 and 38 of the spring members 22 and 22 respectively are hookedor bent to receive the arms 39 and 39 015a knife switch. The said arms are fulcrumed at their medial portion on astandard 40 and retained in position by a belt or rivet 41. The arm member 39 uis provided with a contact member 42, which is adapted to interfit between the two switch contacts 43 and .44,

and which is insulated from the arm .39 to prevent grounding of the switch to the clock. The switch contact 44 is slightly longer than the contact 43 to serveas a guidefor the contact member 42 and also to bear against the latter thereby creating suflicient friction to prohibit movement of the said contact memher when it is not positively retained by the contact 42'or 43 or operated by are spring members 22 and 22?. A v

As is shown in 7 the switch-contacts 43 and 44 areinsulated from each other and the shell of the'clock by mounting the same on suitable insulating material'45,such .as fiber, mica or the like.

Ob i ly aivarietyof connections could i be made between the springs and the switch and various types of switches could be employed in substitution for that shown depending uponthe electric circuit to be broken. However, the one shown in the drawing has proved practicable, especially for breaking circuits oflow potential and.amperage, such as employed in the lighting circuitsof an automobile. a

In operation the rod 25 is turned by means of the knurled knob 48 to set the mechanism for operation at a particular time as will be indicated by the on dial. This motion is'transmitted through gear train comprising cogs29, 26, and 24 to the shaft 19. Thebear member 18 being fixedly associated with the shaft 19 is correspondingly rotated'unti-l the finger 20 is so positioned that wh-enth'e slot 21, the Lcollar member 16, which is integral with the cog'15 i s'rotated by the hour cog 14 through means ,of the intermediate 7 cog 1? the said slot will come into juxtaposition with the former at the tlme indicated on the on dial, which t ime .the springf22 will bereleased and 'moveupward a distance egualto the depthof the slot, Since this spring isfhoolred beneath "the'switch arm 39 it williift the latter thus causing the contact 42 to .beaforced between the Switch cohtacts 43 and 44, thereby closing the switch. As the hour cog 14L of the clock rotates, the rim of the collar member 16 will be again drawn beneath finger 20 and the spring 22 compressed. This movement of the spring will not disturb the switch as the spring disengages from the switch and the latter will be eld in position by the friction of the contact and on the contact member 42.

The counter mechanism operated by cog 15 is provided to open the switch at a later time. This mechanism operates in like manner to the switch closing mechanism, except that, due to tile position of the spring 22 upon the opposite side of the fulcrum 41, the

switch will be opened instead of closed.

After the switch has been opened it will not remake contact due to vibration or jarring of the mechanism as sufficient friction is created between the switch arms 39 and the support and between the elongated switch contact 44 and the contact member 42 to retain the same in position.

The arm 33 on the shaft 25 is provided to prohibit operation of the on mechanism should such prohibition be desired. This is accomplished by pushing the rod 25 down so that the flange 32 is in engagement with t 1e lower annular ring of the clasping means 31. The downward movement of the shaft 25 forces the bearing member 49 on the arm 33 against the cog 15, completely compressing the spring 22 and prohibiting the latter from being released until the rod 25 is removed to its upper position. Should it be desired to prohibit the operation of the OE mechanism the arm 33 associated with the rod 25 and the cog 15 is operated in like manner thereupon.

'lhe belt or rod 3? is provided in conjunction with the arm 33 of the on mechanism to positively disengage the switch contact member 42 when the on mechanism is thrown out of operation. This is accomplished by the bolt 37 striking the switch arm 39 and forcing the same downward as the rod 25 is moved to its lowermost position.

Should it be desirable to have the circuit closed and opened at particular times without necessitating the setting of the mechanisms, except in the first instance, 24: hour dials and corresponding cogs may be employed as shown in th drawing.

[an indicator has been provided as shown in F 2 to inform the operator as to whether the on and off mechanisms are in or out of operation. This indicator is composed of a compression spring 46 which may be mounted so as to encircle the shaft 25 or at one side of the shaft 25 on the rim of the clock and a tab at? which is pivotally mounted on the topmost coil of the spring. When the spring is compressed by pushing down the knurled knob 48 the tab will be forced outward and become visible to the operator and will point toward out, or some such suitable word,

2 .cd on the rim of the clock.

When the spring is distended by raising the knurled knob 48 the indicator tab at is drawn u, be eath the knob.

' In use the mechanism may be connected in an electric circuit in substitution for an ordinary switch or may be connect d in par allel with such a switch thus having one supplement the other.

We claim:

1. A controller comprising a clock mechanism, an electric switch, means associated with said clock mechanism for actuating said electric switch, means for prohibiting the operation of said actuating means, and an indictator for designating the position of said prohibiting means, said indicator comprising a resilient member, an indicating tab as sociated with said resilient member and adapted to appear when said resilient member is compressed.

2. A controller comprising a clock mech" anism, a gear driven by said clock mechanism, a collar member integral with said gear and having a slot therein, a compres sion spring associated with said gear, a bearing for said collar member, a finger on the periphery of said bearing adapted to receive the said slot and release the compression spring, an electric switch, means for operatively associating said switch and said spring, a slidable setting rod, cogs connecting said rod to said bearing member, and an arm on said setting rod, said arm passing over the releasing means and adapted to retain the latter from operation.

3. A controller comprising a clock mechanism, a gear driven by said clock mechanism, a collar member integral with said gear and having a slot therein, a compression spring associated with said gear, a: bearing for said collar member, a linger on the periphery of said bearing and adapted to receive the said slot and release the compression spring, an electric switch, means for operatively associating said switch and said spring, a slidable setting rod, cogs connecting said rod to said bearing member, an arm on said setting rod, said arm passing over the releasing means and adapted to retain the latter from operation, and means associated with said arm to open said electric switch when the said arm is positioned to retain the releasing means from operation.

4-. A controller comprising a clock mechanism, a gear driven by said clock mechanism, resilient means associated with said gear, means associated with said gear for releasing said resilient means, a second operating mechanism associated with said clock mechanism, an electric switch, comprising an arm pivoted at its medial portion, a contact member associated with said arm, fixed contact members adapted to receive said contact member, and an arm connecting one end of 'said switch with one of said operating mechanisms, said arm beingadapted to open said switch, a second arm connecting the other end of said switch with the other of said operating mechanisms, said arm being adapted to close said switch.

5. A time clock electric switch including a, clock movement, a pair of duplicate gears in mesh with and adapted to 'be driven by a pinion of said movement, each of said gears having in contact therewith a spring lever provided'with a hooked arm, a. switch lever pivotally mounted so as to be within range of the hook of eachof said arms, and time'controlled means in connection with each of said gears to operate one of the said spring'levers to hook the said switch lever to close the switch and later to operate the other spring lever to hook the said switch lever to open the switch.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names. Y

' FREDERICK C. KINNEY.

WALTER T. STOCKTON. 

